USPTO Patents Application 10731130

Emergency Lighting Function Illumination Appliance

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1) FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention herein relates to emergency lighting equipment, specifically
5 an emergency lighting function illumination appliance that integrates ordinary
lighting and emergency lighting into a single piece of equipment.

2) DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Conventional emergency lighting equipment is a type of appliance that
continues to provide illumination during failures of normal electricity (mains

10 power) distribution with the purpose of maintaining minimal visibility in homes,
work places, and shelter passageways to thereby enable a short period of time to
conclude work or facilitate evacuation guidance. Evacuation guidance devices
includes exit indicator lights over safety doors and various hallway direction signs,
their installation allowing identification of evacuation passageways and safety

15 door locations in the dark. As living quality has risen in recent years, building
design has in addition to emphasizing comfort also been required to take safety
into consideration.

Conventional emergency lighting equipment now available on the market is

mainly wall-mounted emergency lighting fixtures. Such emergency lighting is
typically installed in several places along hallways, stairs, passageways, and other
ordinarily illuminated areas that must be traversed during evacuations. In most
cases, the emergency lighting is internally equipped with an AC-DC switching
device, to process the mains power (AC source) and output an appropriate DC to
automatically charge a backup battery for auto cessation when a full charge is
reached. In the event of a power outage, the device automatically switches to a
backup circuit which supplies power for emergency illumination.

However, since emergency lighting is designed for stand alone use in
various areas, consumers can purchase them individually for indoor installation.
Such emergency lighting is only placed along hallways, stairs, passageways, and
other ordinarily illuminated areas that must be passed through during evacuations
to highlight their locations and, therefore, the illuminated areas are limited and,
furthermore, due to their wall-mount design, light is only directed onto walls,
which is a further curbs area coverage.

Consequently, lighting equipment, such as fluorescent lamps, in most
homes and work places are of a switch-based design, enabling circuit opening and
closure for controlling fluorescent operation on and off. As a result, mains power
must be supplied before fluorescent lamps can provide illumination. Conversely,
conventional emergency lighting operation is the opposite of conventional lighting

equipment; illumination is provided when mains power fails and the lighting
automatically terminates when normal mains power supply resumes. As such, the
applicant of the invention herein thought to provide a new type of lighting
equipment, the said equipment utilizing fluorescent lamp tube, light bulb, or light-

5 emitting diode (LED) such that the fluorescent lamp tube, light bulb, or light-
emitting diode (LED) typically utilized for ordinary lighting but still retains
lighting capability during mains power outages and, therefore, integrated both an
ordinary lighting device and a emergency lighting device into one single structural
entity. The most difficult part of this integration is how to distinguish power

10 failure from turning off the light by users. Some solutions in the market make use
of three wires to control (the circuit layout of the building have to be rearranged),
some use remote controller, some use a rope as on/off control. However, non of
these solutions are economical and convenient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

15 The objective of the invention herein is to provide an emergency lighting

function illumination appliance to save the expense of additionally purchasing
emergency lighting.

Another objective of the invention herein is to provide an emergency
lighting function illumination appliance that has lighting capability when mains

power is normally supplied and also during mains power outages.

The present invention integrates an emergency illumination device and
ordinary illumination device into one unit. The most attractive part of this
invention is that there is no need to modify the circuit layout of the building. Thus,
5 to reduce expenditures, increase lighting area coverage, and facilitate evacuation
efficiency.

To further elaborate, under such a concept, the invention herein is utilized
on a fluorescent lamp and is comprised a fluorescent lamp tube and a controller,
the controller is capable of distinguishing whether mains power is being normally

10 supplied to thereby determine when the fluorescent lamp should be operated by
mains power or by a backup power source. Additionally, when mains power is
normally supplied, the user turns on or off of the fluorescent lamp with a switch
(the special switch generates voltage or current pulse) to thereby achieve user
requirements. A mains power circuit (switching ballast) provides for powering the

15 fluorescent lamp when mains power is available and a backup circuit provides for
powering the fluorescent lamp by a backup power source during mains power
outages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a state chart of the most preferred embodiment of the invention

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herein.

Figure 2 is a block diagram of the invention herein.
Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the mains power circuit 3 in FIG. 2.
Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the backup circuit 4 in FIG. 2.
5 Figure 5 a schematic diagram of the controller 2 in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention herein utilizes fluorescent lamp technological content,
advantages, and functions. To enable a further understanding, a brief description of
the drawings is followed by the detailed description of the most preferred

10 embodiment of the invention herein.

When conventional fluorescent lights available on the market normally
utilize mains electricity, the user toggles a switch to connect or disconnected
fluorescent lamp with power and thereby effectively achieve lamp illumination
and vice- versa; however, the design of conventional fluorescent lights is such that

15 they are incapable of distinguishing between a normal power and a power outage
situation; to integrate an emergency illumination device and ordinary illumination
device into one unit, under normal mains power. The design herein utilizes a
special device, the controller of the invention herein, which after processing
generates different level signals, to thereby control fluorescent lamp switching

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using a new method. When electricity is normally supplied by mains power, the
lamp, whether in an illuminative state or a non-illuminative state, remains in a state
of continuity. The electricity or current passed to the fluorescent lamp won be
cut off by switch (except when the switch is pressed).. Instead, the switch only
5 generates pulse signals when toggled. To achieve these objectives, the fluorescent
lamp power supply switch must ordinarily be maintained in a state of continuity
(always ON); when the switch button is pressed, this establishes in a state of
discontinuity and, when no longer pressed, switch automatically restores the state
of continuity, thereby resulting in instantaneous short power termination; the

10 controller inside the fluorescent lamp which is detecting and processing the said
pulse signal enables or disables illumination of the fluorescent lamp as user
requires, (an approach that is different from that of conventional switched lamps
now on the market). During a mains power outage, the controller automatically
shifts the fluorescent lamp circuit to the backup circuit, the backup power supply

15 provides electricity to power the fluorescent lamp, which enters the emergency
illumination mode, and functions among the features of the invention herein. To
elaborate, referring to FIG. 1, wherein State 1 runs during a mains power outage,
the controller automatically shifts the fluorescent lamp power supply circuit to the
backup circuit backup power source to furnish power for emergency lighting; State

20 2 is made in such a way that the user enables illumination of the fluorescent lamp,

and State 3 is made in such a way that the user disables illumination of the
fluorescent lamp. During a mains power outage, whether the fluorescent lamp is
originally situated in State 2 or Slate 3, the equipment of the invention herein
automatically shifts the fluorescent lamp power supply circuit to State 1 for
5 emergency lighting.

As indicated in FIG. 2, the preferred embodiment emergency lighting
function illumination appliance of the invention herein has a fluorescent lamp tube
I, a controller 2, a mains power circuit 3, and a back up circuit 4 such that the
fluorescent lamp tube 1 is operated by the controller 2, which selects mains power
10 supplied from the mains power circuit 3 or selects backup power from the backup
circuit 4.

As indicated in FIG. 3, the mains power circuit 3 is an electric power device
that consists of a switching ballast utilized to convert and process mains power
appropriately to drive the fluorescent lamp tube 1, an AC-to-DC converter circuit

15 31, and an oscillator circuit 32. The AC-to-DC converter circuit 31 receives mains
power input, converts it into direct current +V CC and -V C c that is outputted to the
oscillator circuit 32, the oscillator circuit 32 then converting the direct current
electricity into a high frequency signal fed to the fluorescent lamp tube 1, thereby
driving the fluorescent lamp tube 1 into luminescence. Similarly, as indicated in

20 FIG. 4, the backup circuit 4 has a direct current oscillator circuit 42, a backup

power source, and a charging circuit 41; the backup power source (such as a
rechargeable battery, etc.) outputs direct current electricity to the oscillator circuit
42, where it is processed and outputted to the fluorescent lamp tube 1 such that the
fluorescent lamp tube 1 is driven into luminescence for emergency lighting. As
5 such, since the fluorescent lamp tube 1, the mains power circuit 3, and the backup
circuit 4 are widely known devices and, furthermore, are not improvement focal
points of the present invention, they shall not be further elaborated.

The controller 2 of the invention here is a new type that provides the user
control over fluorescent lamp tube 1 luminescence and non-luminescence when

10 mains power is normally supplied and capable of automatically shifting to using
the backup circuit 4 backup power source and starting the luminescence of the
fluorescent lamp tube 1 during mains power outages. The controller 2 is capable of
automatically selecting a shift of the fluorescent lamp tube 1 to the mains power
circuit 3, the backup circuit 4, or no connection due to changes in the electricity

15 supply situation or a different selection by the user. As indicated in FIG. 5, the
new type controller 2 herein is comprised of a control unit 21 and a selection unit
22. The said control unit 21 outputs signals to the selection unit 22 according to
the utilization objectives of the user; as such, the selection unit 22 automatically
distinguishes whether mains power is being supplied, and based on the different

20 control signals received, the controller 2 automatically places the fluorescent lamp

tube 1 in either State I, State 2, or State 3, thereby achieving the new type
functions and performance.

The control unit 21 outputs different level control signals to the selection
unit 22 as the illumination of fluorescent lamp is disable or enable by the user,

5 thereby informing the selection unit 22 of the user selections. For example, when
the user enable illumination of the fluorescent lamp, the controller 2
correspondingly outputs a high level control signal; when the user disable
illumination of the fluorescent light, the controller 2 correspondingly outputs a low
level control signal, causing the fluorescent lamp to go out; as such, the repeated

10 actuation of the switch effectively turns the fluorescent lamp on and off.

In the embodiment herein, the control unit 21 has a switch 211, the switch
211 providing the user an instantaneous pressing means of controlling the
fluorescent lamp such that when mains power is normally supplied, the fluorescent
lamp can be controlled on and off. The said switch 211 is an always on switch, the

15 switch 211 is ordinarily closed and in a state of continuity, only switching off
whenever the switch 211 is pressed, but when the switch 211 is no longer pressed,
it automatically returns to the closed state and remains in state of continuity at
once; therefore, the new type control unit 21 of the invention herein is also
comprised of a D type flip-flop 212, a switch 211, and a Schmitt trigger amplifier

20 213, its output pin is connected to the trigger pin T of the D type flip-flop 212. The

D type flip-flop 212 negative output pin Q goes to input pin D. The control signal
CI shown as outputted from the D type flip-flop 212 positive output pin Q; as
such, if the control signal CI is originally a high level signal (logical 1), the

negative output pin Q and the input pin D signals are now low level signals
5 (logical 0), if the switch 211 button is pressed at this time, then the signal received
by the D type flip-flop 212 trigger pin T becomes a low level signal from the
original high level signal, and after the switch 211 button is released, the switch
immediately returns to a high level signal (a positive edge trigger signal is
generated); when the D type flip-flop 212 receives the positive edge signal
10 generated by the switch 211, then the input pin D signal is transferred to the output

pins Q and it inverse Q, at which time the control signal CI outputted by the

positive output pin Q becomes a low level signal ( logical 0 ) and the signal
connected to the input pin D becomes a high level signal ( logical 1); similarly,
after the user once again presses the switch 211 and immediately releases it, a
15 positive edge signal is generated again, causing the D type flip-flop 212 to once
more transfer the input pin D high level signal to the output pins Q and it

inverse Q. Therefore, the control signal CI outputted by the output pin Q again
becoming a high level signal (logical 1). Consequently, the user repeatedly
presses/releases the control unit switch 211 to sequentially output different level

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signals to the selection unit 22 and, as such, effectively achieves control over the
illumination and non-illumination of the fluorescent lamp. It should be noted that
although the switch 211 of the embodiment herein is an always on switch, those
skilled in the technology can utilize other categories of switches available on the
5 market such as rotary-type switches and prod-type switches, etc. A mere control
unit 21 is capable of processing the generated pulse signal and outputting different
level control signals, which enable and disable illumination of fluorescent lamp as
the user wishes, and shall not be limited by the disclosed objectives herein.

Those familiar with digital circuit design know that the said D type flip-

10 flop 212 circuit can be substituted with other type flip-flop mechanisms such as T
type flip-flop; a major aspect of the invention herein is the use of voltage or
current pulse signal variation via special processing methods to switch the light
source on and off, with the emergency lighting equipment and the ordinary
lighting equipment integrated into a single entity; although other circuits can be

15 used as substitutes for the control unit 21 circuit, all utilize voltage or current pulse
signal variation to serve as a means of switching the light source on and off, and,
the design for the integration of the ordinary lighting device and the emergency
lighting device into a single entity shall also be included in the claims of the
invention herein.

20 Additionally, to facilitate further description, first assume that when the

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control signal CI is a high level signal, then this represents that the user wants to
enable illumination of the fluorescent lamp (as shown in State 2 of FIG. 1), and
when the control signal CI is a low level signal, then this represents that the user
wants to disable illumination of the fluorescent lamp (as shown in State 3 of FIG.
5 1).

The selection unit 22 determines whether the fluorescent lamp tube 1 is
connected to the mains power circuit 3, the backup circuit 4, or totally
unconnected based on the control signal CI (as shown in FIG. 5) or mains power
is present/not present, enabling the fluorescent lamp to alternate through States 1,

10 2, and 3, as indicated in FIG. 1 to achieve the objectives of ordinary lighting or
emergency lighting. To elaborate, during a mains power outage, the fluorescent
lamp tube 1 circuit is automatically shifted via the selection unit 22 to the backup
circuit 4, the power supplied by the backup power source effectively producing
emergency lighting (as shown in State 1 of FIG. 1); when mains power is restored

15 to normal, the fluorescent lamp tube 1 circuit is automatically shifted via the
selection unit 22 to the mains power circuit 3; when the mains power is normally
supplied and, furthermore, the user wants to disable illumination of the fluorescent
lamp, the fluorescent lamp tube 1 is controlled by the selection unit 22 and is not
connected to either the mains power circuit 3 or the backup circuit 4, which

20 remains non-illuminative because no electricity is supplied (as shown in State 3 of

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FIG. 1). The selection unit 22 embodiment herein has four relays 221, 222, 223,
and 224. These relays have two input pins, one output pin, and a selection pin. The
output pins of relays 221 and 222 are respectively connected to the two input ends
of the fluorescent lamp tube 1, the upper right side input pins of the two relays 221
5 and 222 are respectively connected to the output pins 02 and 03 of the backup
circuit 4 (as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5), and the input pins at the lower right side
of the relays 221 and 222 are respectively connected to the output pins at the left
side of the relays 223 and 224. The input pins at the lower right side of the relays
223 and 224 are respectively connected to output pin Ol and the ground of the

10 mains power circuit 3(as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5), the other input pins at the
upper right side are left floating. Additionally, the selection pins at the lower sides
of relays 221 and 222 are respectively connected to mains power. When mains
power is normally supplied, the relays 221 and 222 output pins are connected to
the lower right side input pins. Via the relays 223 and 224, power is supplied from

15 the mains power circuit 3 or not determined by the control signal CI (CI is
controlled by the user). During power outages, the relays 221 and 222 output pins
are connected to 02 and 03 of FIG. 4 at the upper right side input pins, enabling
the illumination of the fluorescent lamp tube 1 by the backup power source of
backup circuit 4. The selection pins at the lower side extent of relays 223 and 224

20 are connected to the control signal CI (driven by the output pin Q of D type flip-

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flop 212). When the control signal CI is a high level signal, the relays 223 and 224
output pins are respectively connected to the input pins at the lower right side,
enabling connection of the input pins at the lower right side of the relays 221 and

222 via the relays 223 and 224 to both the output pin Ol and ground of the mains
5 power circuit 3, and the fluorescent lamp tube 1 is powered by mains power (as

shown in State 2 of FIG. 1); and when the control signal CI is a low level signal,
the relays 223 and 224 output pins are connected to the input pins at the upper
right side, the fluorescent lamp remaining non-illuminative because no power is
supplied (as shown in State 3 of FIG. 1).

10 Based on the said structural components and their interrelationship, the

toggling states of the fluorescent lamp are further elaborated. First, if mains power
is normally supplied, then the relays 221 and 222 output terminals are
automatically connected to input pins at the lower right side, following which the
other two relays 223 and 224, based on the control signal CI received, determine

15 whether the fluorescent lamp tube 1 is illuminative or not. When the user wants
enable illumination of the fluorescent lamp, the user presses and release the switch
211, the control unit 21 outputs a high level control signal CI, causing the relays

223 and 224 output pins to connect with both the input pin Ol and the ground at
the lower right side, enabling the fluorescent lamp tube 1 via the relays 221, 222,

20 223, and 224 to become connected with the mains power circuit 3 output pins Ol

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and ground, and enter State 2 indicated in FIG. 1 to thereby switch on, at which
time, if the user wants to disable illumination of the fluorescent lamp, the user
presses and release the switch 211, the control signal CI outputted by the control
unit 21 becomes a low level signal, toggling the relays 223 and 224 output pins
5 into connection with the input pins at the upper right side such that the fluorescent
lamp tube 1 is disconnected from the mains power circuit 3, switching it off
because power is no longer supplied (as shown in State 3 of FIG. 1).
Consequently, under situations in which mains power is normally supplied, the
user momentarily presses the switch 211 several times to control the fluorescent

10 lamp, with the toggling on and off of the fluorescent lamp shown in transition
between State 2 and State 3 of FIG. 1. In the event of a mains power outage
(power failure), then the relays 221 and 222 output pins are automatically toggled
into connection with the backup circuit 4 output pins 02 and 03 at the upper right
side and, as such, the backup circuit 4 is connected to the fluorescent lamp tube 1

15 via the relays 221 and 222 left side output terminals and supplied electricity by the
backup power source of backup circuit 4, the fluorescent lamp entering the
emergency lighting mode as shown in state 1 of FIG. 1.

Based on the foregoing section, the fluorescent lamp of the invention herein
ordinarily (when mains power is normally supplied) serves as lighting equipment

20 for user operation and usage, but during power outages, due to the function of the

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controller 2 selection unit 22 and the backup circuit. 4, automatically serves as
emergency lighting; as such, the user does not have to purchase emergency
lighting equipment to effectively save cost and, furthermore, because the
illumination range and the applications scope of the fluorescent lamp is large.
5 Additionally, although the said embodiment only discloses an illumination

appliance having an emergency light function, those skilled in the technology are
knowledgeable that the controller 2 and the backup circuit 4 can be integrated into
a unitary control device and utilized in existent fluorescent lamps, or the controller
2, the mains power circuit 3, and the backup circuit 4 combined into a single

10 device for utilization in fluorescent lamps; the controller 2 uses four relays, but
actually when the controller 2 is integrated with the mains power circuit 3 and the
backup circuit 4, the quantity of relays are reduced and, therefore, the said
embodiment as described shall not be construed as a limitation on the invention
herein; additionally, the main application of the embodiment herein consists of

15 fluorescent lamps and since fluorescent lamp photoelectric transformation efficacy
is outstanding, the structure of the invention herein can be modified and still
achieve the same objectives, wherein the general approaches are as follows:

First, if the fluorescent lamp tube 1 is still utilized and the mains power
circuit 3 (switching ballast) is changed to a conventional ballast; when utilizing

20 this arrangement, a starter is added to the fluorescent lamp tube 1 power input pin.

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Second, if the fluorescent lamp tube 1 is changed to a different type of light
bulb or other illuminant such as an LED, then a) the mains power circuit 3 is
replaced by a transformer and rectifier, electricity is then supplied from mains
power via the transformer and then via a rectifier; and b) the direct current
5 oscillator circuit 42 in the backup circuit 4 is eliminated, then the illuminant
appliance can be directly driven by the backup power source such as a
rechargeable battery, enabling the controller 2 to function identically.

Third, when the switching ballast is built in the fluorescent lamp tube 1 , as a
product which can be bought in the market. The oscillator circuit 42 of the backup

10 circuit 4 can be modified to generate a switching power like AC source (eg. the
voltage and frequency are equivalent to the mains power source), and the
switching ballast in the mains power circuit 3 can be removed, Therefore the
controller 2 of the invention herein can also achieved the same function.

However, in the preceding description, the most preferred embodiment of

15 the invention herein is provided as an example and shall not be construed as a
limitation on the claims of the present invention, the said embodiment utilizing
power interrupters, ON-OFF power switches, or other approaches to generate
voltage or current pulse signals, such that after processing by the controller 2, the
special device of the invention herein described above, the following functions are

20 achieved: a) The illumination appliance is turned on and off through a power

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switch ON-OFF approach based on user intent when mains power is normally
supplied; b) During mains power outages, the power circuit is automatically
shifted to the backup circuit and supplied power from the backup power source
and thus effectively produces emergency lighting; and c) When mains power
5 electricity supply is restored, the power circuit is automatically shifted to the mains
circuit, with the mains power supply of electricity restoring ordinary lighting
function. All simple modifications and adaptation based on the said descriptive
content of the invention herein shall remain protected by the patented claims of the
present invention.

10

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